In Florida, real estate closings are handled by a title company — not an attorney — and the process typically takes 30 to 45 days from signed contract to closing day for financed purchases. On closing day itself, you'll spend about an hour signing documents, and the title company disburses all funds the same day. In Southwest Florida, buyers and sellers often sign separately, and there are several Florida-specific details — doc stamps, HOA estoppel letters, and county-by-county title insurance customs — that catch first-timers off guard if they're not prepared.
Before closing day: the 30 to 45 days that get you there
Cash purchases can move in as little as 7–14 days; financed purchases typically run 30–45 days. During that window, the title company opens escrow and orders a title search — a review of public records going back years confirming clear ownership, taking 5–10 business days. In Southwest Florida, flood-related liens and unpaid HOA assessments after Hurricane Ian occasionally surface during title searches, another reason this step matters more here than in most markets.
If your property has an HOA — roughly 75% of Bonita Springs properties do — your title company orders an estoppel letter confirming exactly what the seller owes the association. Florida law caps the fee at $299 with a 10-business-day delivery requirement; ordering it late is a common cause of delay.
Three business days before closing, you receive your Closing Disclosure — compare it against your original Loan Estimate and raise any discrepancy before signing day. The day before closing, do a final walkthrough confirming agreed condition and completed repairs.
Call the title company directly to verify wire instructions before you wire a dollar — using a number you looked up yourself, never one from an email. Wire fraud in Florida real estate is at an all-time high, and once a wire leaves your bank, it cannot be recalled.
Closing day: what you'll actually sign
Florida closings are handled by title companies, not attorneys — a surprise for buyers from the Northeast and Midwest, but standard here. Buyers and sellers often sign separately in Southwest Florida; you may never be in the same room as the other party.
Bring a government-issued photo ID, proof of active homeowners insurance (required by your lender on closing day), and confirmation that your funds have already been wired. The appointment runs about an hour to 90 minutes. Buyers sign the most — loan documents, the closing disclosure, title insurance documents, an occupancy affidavit, often 80–100 pages total. Sellers sign less — the warranty deed, a no-lien affidavit, and the settlement statement — typically a 30–45 minute appointment.
The Southwest Florida specifics that catch people off guard
Doc stamps: Florida charges $0.70 per $100 of sale price on the deed — $4,200 on a $600,000 home, paid by the seller. This shows up on the settlement statement alongside commission and any concessions; worth walking through a net sheet before listing.
Who pays for title insurance is one of the most county-specific details in Florida. In Lee County (Bonita Springs, Estero, Fort Myers, Cape Coral), it's customary for the seller to pay and choose the title company. In Collier County (Naples, Marco Island), it's customary for the buyer to pay and choose. This can be negotiated, but local custom controls if the contract is silent — know which county you're in.
Multiple HOA estoppel letters may be needed if a property has both a master HOA and a sub-association — each with its own fee and timeline.
Wet funding: Florida requires same-day disbursement — once documents are signed and the lender wires loan proceeds, the closer records the deed and releases funds that day. Buyers get keys; sellers get net proceeds by wire, typically arriving the same afternoon, with any existing mortgage paid off directly from proceeds first.
One 2026 wrinkle: a FinCEN reporting rule effective March 1, 2026 requires additional documentation for certain all-cash transactions over specific thresholds — your title company will walk you through what's needed if this applies.